Erb's palsy

Etymology: Wilhelm H. Erb, German neurologist, 1840-1921

a kind of paralysis caused by traumatic injury to the upper brachial plexus. It occurs most commonly as a result of forcible traction during childbirth, with injury to one or more cervical nerve roots. The signs of Erb's palsy include loss of sensation in the arm and paralysis and atrophy of the deltoid, the biceps, and the brachialis muscles. The arm on the affected side hangs loosely with the elbow extended and the forearm pronated. Treatment initially requires that the arm and shoulder be immobilized to allow the swelling and inflammation of the associated neuritis to resolve. Physical therapy and splinting may be necessary to improve muscle function and to prevent flexion contracture of the elbow. Also called Erb-Duchenne paralysis.

Erb's palsy

Erb's palsy

Erb-Duchenne paralysis Neonatology Paralysis of multiple upper arm and shoulder muscles–eg, biceps, brachialis, brachioradialis, deltoid, due to an abnormal position during a vaginal delivery, resulting in C5 and C6 injury in cervical plexus

Erb's palsy

Paralysis of the shoulder and arm muscles from an injury to the nerve roots emerging from the fifth and sixth spinal segments in the neck. The arm hangs down with the hand turned backwards in the ‘waiter's tip’ position. Erb's palsy usually results from a birth injury. (Wilhelm Heinrich Erb, German neurologist, 1840–1921).

Louis Laz, a Board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist, at the health center on April 29, 1996, The patient informed the physician that her first child suffered Erb's Palsy as a result of shoulder dystocia due to the baby's large size.

One recent article, by Wisconsin obstetricians Herbert Sandmire and Robert DeMott, argues that the propulsive action of the uterus is so strong it can stretch the brachial plexus nerve, causing Erb's palsy, a weakness in the upper arm.

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